Collapsible Wagon and Method of Collapsing A Wagon

ABSTRACT

A collapsible wagon comprises a frame, four wheels, a pliable liner, and a telescoping tow handle. The frame has four sides that are each formed by a respective scissor-bar assembly. The frame also has a vertically oriented telescoping pole assembly at the intersection of each pair of the scissor-bar assemblies. The frame is configured such that, as the wagon is altered from its expanded to its collapsed configuration, the scissor-bar assemblies and the telescoping pole assemblies increase in height and the scissor-bar assemblies decrease in width. Each of the four wheels is attached to a bottom end portion of a respective one of the telescoping pole assemblies. The pliable liner is connected to the frame and defines an open-top interior compartment of the wagon when the wagon is in its expanded configuration. The telescoping tow handle is adjustable between collapsed and expanded configurations.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention pertains to hand-drawn wagons. More particularly, thepresent invention pertains to a hand-drawn wagon that is collapsible ina manner such that the wagon can be stored in a minimal amount of space.

2. General Background

Hand-drawn wagons typically have an open-top cuboid compartment forholding and transporting things, including children. Such wagons alsotypically comprise four wheels for supporting the wagons from surfaces.Typically, two of the wheels of such a wagon are able to pivot withrespect to the remaining wheels in a manner allowing the wagon to besteered. Such a wagon also typically comprises a tow handle that isconfigured to be pulled by an individual to move and steer the wagon.

In addition to the foregoing, some wagons are configured to becollapsible. A collapsible wagon typically has a collapsible frame and apliable liner that forms the compartment of the wagon. When such a wagonis collapsed, the pliable liner folds-in on itself as the framecollapses. However, not all collapsible wagons are easy to collapse, andwith some, it is difficult to ensure that the pliable liner foldsproperly during the process of collapsing the wagon. Furthermore, notall collapsible wagons can be sufficiently collapsed and some haverelatively flimsy frames.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to a collapsible wagon that has a strongand robust configuration, and yet is easily collapsed and easilyexpanded. Furthermore, in its collapsed state, the wagon is highlycompact.

In one aspect of the invention, a wagon is adjustable between anexpanded configuration and a collapsed configuration. The wagoncomprises a frame, four wheels, a pliable liner, and a telescoping towhandle. The frame has four sides. Each side is formed by a respectivescissor-bar assembly. The frame also has a vertically orientedtelescoping pole assembly at the intersection of each pair of thescissor-bar assemblies. The frame is configured such that as the wagonis altered from its expanded to its collapsed configuration thescissor-bar assemblies and the telescoping pole assemblies increase inheight and the scissor-bar assemblies decrease in width. Each of thefour wheels is attached to a bottom end portion of a respective one ofthe telescoping pole assemblies. The pliable liner is connected to theframe and defines an open-top interior compartment of the wagon when thewagon is in its expanded configuration. The telescoping tow handle isadjustable between collapsed and expanded configurations.

In another aspect of the invention, a wagon is adjustable between anexpanded configuration and a collapsed configuration. The wagoncomprises a frame, four wheels, a pliable liner, and a tow handle. Theframe has four sides. Each side is formed by a respective scissor-barassembly. The frame also has a vertically oriented telescoping poleassembly at the intersection of each pair of the scissor-bar assemblies.The frame is configured such that as the wagon is altered from itsexpanded to its collapsed configuration the scissor-bar assemblies andthe telescoping pole assemblies increase in height and the scissor-barassemblies decrease in width. Each of two of the scissor-bar assembliescomprises a single pair of crossed bars and each of the other two of thescissor-bar assemblies comprises a plurality of pairs of crossed barsconnected to each other. Each of the four wheels is attached to a bottomend portion of a respective one of the telescoping pole assemblies. Thepliable liner is connected to the frame and defines an open-top interiorcompartment of the wagon when the wagon is in its expandedconfiguration. The tow handle is connected to the frame.

Yet another aspect of the invention pertains to a method of collapsing awagon. The wagon comprises a frame, a collapsible tow handle, and apliable liner. The frame has four sides. Each side is formed by arespective scissor-bar assembly. The frame also has a verticallyoriented telescoping pole assembly at the intersection of each pair ofthe scissor-bar assemblies. The method comprises adjusting the frame ofthe wagon from an expanded configuration to a collapsed configuration ina manner causing the scissor-bar assemblies and the telescoping poleassemblies to increase in height and the scissor-bar assemblies todecrease in width. The pliable liner is collapsed in the process.

Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as theoperation of the invention, are described in detail below with referenceto the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a wagon in accordance with theinvention in its expanded configuration.

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of the wagon showing the bottom sideof the wagon in its expanded configuration.

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of the wagon in a partiallycollapsed/expanded state.

FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of the wagon in its collapsed state.

FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of the wagon in its collapsed stateand is shown with an optional cover fitted thereover.

Reference numerals in the written specification and in the drawingfigures indicate corresponding items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A preferred embodiment of a collapsible wagon 10 in accordance with thepresent invention is shown in FIGS. 1-5. The collapsible wagon 10comprises a frame 12, a plurality of wheels 14, a tow handle 16, and apliable liner 18.

The frame 12 of the wagon 10 includes four telescoping pole assemblies20 and four scissor-bar assemblies 22. Each of the four telescoping poleassemblies 20 preferably includes an upper tube member that is slideablyreceived in a lower tube member in a manner such that the upper tubemember can partially retract into the lower tube member. Thus, eachtelescoping pole assembly 20 can be adjusted between an expandedconfiguration and a collapsed configuration. Each scissor-bar assembly22 comprises at least one pair of crossed bars that are pivotally joinedto each other. Preferably, two of the scissor-bar assemblies 22 eachcomprise a single pair of crossed bars, while the other two scissor-barassemblies each comprise two attached pairs of the crossed bars. Eachscissor-bar assembly 22 has left and right upper corner portions andleft and right lower corner portions. As is typical with mostscissor-bar assemblies in general, each scissor-bar assembly 22 isadjustable between an expanded configuration and a collapsedconfiguration. The upper corner portions of each of the scissor-barassemblies 22 are closer to the corresponding lower corner portionsthereof when the said scissor-bar assembly is in the expandedconfiguration (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) as compared to the collapsedconfiguration (as shown in FIG. 4). Similarly, the upper corner portionsof each of the scissor-bar assemblies 22 are closer to each other whensaid scissor-bar assembly is in the collapsed configuration as comparedto the expanded configuration.

The top end portion of each of the telescoping pole assemblies 20 ispivotally connected to the left upper corner portion of a one of thescissor-bar assemblies 22 and to the right upper corner portion ofanother one of the scissor-bar assemblies. Similarly, the lower endportion of each of the telescoping pole assembly 20 is pivotallyconnected to the left lower corner portion of the correspondingscissor-bar assembly 22 and to the right lower corner portion of theother corresponding scissor-bar assembly. As such, the telescoping poleassemblies 20 adjust from their expanded configuration to theircollapsed configuration as the scissor-bar assemblies 22 adjust fromtheir collapsed configuration to their expanded configuration and eachof the telescoping pole assemblies moves toward each of the othertelescoping pole assemblies as the scissor-bar assemblies adjust fromtheir expanded configuration to their collapsed configuration. Thus, ascan be seen in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, as the wagon 10 collapses, thetelescoping pole assemblies 20 expand in height together with thescissor-bar assemblies.

The frame 12 of the wagon 10 also preferably comprises a collapsiblebottom support assembly 24. The bottom support assembly preferablycomprises four bars 26 that are each pivotally connected to a centralhub 28 and extend therefrom. Each of the four bars 26 is also pivotallyconnected to the bottom end portion of a respective one of the one ofthe telescoping pole assemblies 20. As the wagon 10 is collapsed, thecentral hub 28 moves upward. The central hub 28 is preferably configuredto limit the extent to which the bars 26 can pivot relative to thecentral hub, such that central hub cannot be moved lower than being inplane with the bars 26 of the bottom support assembly 24. Thus, when thewagon 10 is in its expanded configuration, the bottom support assembly24 is capable of supporting a downward acting load. Thus the liner 18needs not carry the entire load of cargo placed in the wagon 10.

Each of the wheels 14 of the wagon 10 is attached to the lower portionof a respective one of the telescoping pole assemblies 20. Preferably,the two wheels 14 nearest the tow handle 16 are able to pivot aboutvertical axes (in addition to being able to rotate on their horizontalaxles). The other two wheels 14 preferably are not.

The tow handle 16 preferably comprises two telescopically attachedsections. The telescoping tow handle 16 is preferably connected to thelower portion of the nearest two of the telescoping pole assemblies 20via two connecting members 30. Each of the connecting members 30 has afirst end portion that is pivotally connected to the bottom end portionof the respective telescoping pole assembly 20, and an opposite secondend portion that is pivotally connected to the telescoping tow handle16. Each connecting member 30 extends upward in a sloped manner from thebottom portion of the respective telescoping pole assembly 20 to thetelescoping tow handle 16 such that the second end portions of theconnecting members move upward relative to the bottom end portions ofthe telescoping pole assemblies as the wagon 10 is collapsed. When thewagon 10 is collapsed, the telescoping tow handle 16 can also becollapsed such that it does not extend above the frame 12 of the wagon.

The pliable liner 18 of the wagon 10 rests inside the frame 12 when thewagon is expanded and forms the open-top interior compartment 32 of thewagon. Each upper corner of the pliable liner is attached to the topportion of a respective one of the telescoping pole assemblies 20. Thepliable liner 18 also preferably comprises a plurality of flaps 34having looped fasteners (such as Velcro®) that extend downward from thebase of the pliable liner. The flaps 34 secure the base of the pliableliner 18 to the bars 26 and the central hub 28 of the frame 12. Thepliable liner 18 preferably further includes a pair of inverted pockets36 and a pliable fabric handle 38. The inverted pockets 36 areconfigured to receive the top-center portion of each of the sidescissor-bar assemblies 22 for supporting the pliable liner 18 therefrom(as shown in FIG. 1). The fabric handle 38 is configured to allow thecenter portion of the pliable liner 18 to be pulled upward. Pullingupward on the fabric handle 38 causes the pliable liner 18 to pullupward on the bottom support assembly 24 of the frame 12 of the wagon10. That pulling force moves the central hub 28 of the bottom supportassembly 24 of the frame 12 upward and collapses the wagon 10 with aminimal amount of effort.

The wagon 10 is preferably sold with a cover 40 and a stiffening panel42. As shown in FIG. 5, the cover 40 is configured to protect the wagon10 when the wagon is in its collapsed condition. It also reduces thelikelihood that things will get snagged on the wagon 10 when the wagon10 is in storage. The cover 40 also includes a pocket 44 for holding thestiffening panel 42 when the wagon 10 is in its collapsed condition. Thestiffening panel 42 is comprised of four adjacent panels that arewrapped in fabric in a manner such that the stiffening panel can befolded like an accordion. When unfolded, the stiffening panel 42 can beplaced in the bottom of the interior compartment 32 of the wagon 10. Thestiffing panel 42 helps distribute loads of any cargo being carried inthe wagon 10 more evenly to the bottom support assembly 24 of the frame12 and prevents the components of the bottom support assembly from beingfelt by children riding in wagon.

In view of the foregoing, it should be appreciated that the inventionhas several advantages over the prior art.

As various modifications could be made in the constructions and methodsherein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of theinvention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoingdescription or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of thepresent invention should not be limited by any of the above-describedexemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with thefollowing claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

It should also be understood that when introducing elements of thepresent invention in the claims or in the above description of exemplaryembodiments of the invention, the terms “comprising,” “including,” and“having” are intended to be open-ended and mean that there may beadditional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, theterm “portion” should be construed as meaning some or all of the item orelement that it qualifies. Moreover, use of identifiers such as first,second, and third should not be construed in a manner imposing anyrelative position or time sequence between limitations. Still further,the order in which the steps of any method claim that follows arepresented should not be construed in a manner limiting the order inwhich such steps must be performed, unless such and order is inherent.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wagon that is adjustable between an expandedconfiguration and a collapsed configuration, the wagon comprising: aframe, the frame having four sides, each side being formed by arespective scissor-bar assembly, the frame also having a verticallyoriented telescoping pole assembly at the intersection of each pair ofthe scissor-bar assemblies, the frame being such that as the wagon isaltered from its expanded to its collapsed configuration the scissor-barassemblies and the telescoping pole assemblies increase in height andthe scissor-bar assemblies decrease in width; four wheels, each beingattached to a bottom end portion of a respective one of the telescopingpole assemblies; a pliable liner that is connected to the frame and thatdefines an open-top interior compartment of the wagon when the wagon isin its expanded configuration; and a telescoping tow handle, thetelescoping tow handle being adjustable between collapsed and expandedconfigurations.
 2. A wagon in accordance with claim 1 wherein the towhandle is connected to two of the telescoping pole assemblies via twoconnecting members, each of the connecting members has a first endportion that is pivotally connected to the bottom end portion of therespective telescoping pole assembly and an opposite second end portionthat is pivotally connected to the tow handle, each of the connectingmembers extends upward in a sloped manner from the bottom end portion ofthe respective telescoping pole assembly to the tow handle such that thesecond end portions of the connecting members move upward relative tothe bottom end portions of the telescoping pole assemblies as the wagonis adjusted from its expanded configuration to its collapsedconfiguration.
 3. A wagon in accordance with claim 1 wherein the towhandle has a top end and is configured such that, when the wagon is inits collapsed position and the tow handle is vertical and in itscollapsed configuration, the top end of the tow handle does not protrudesubstantially above the reminder of collapsible wagon.
 4. A wagon inaccordance with claim 1 wherein each of two of the scissor-barassemblies comprises a single pair of crossed bars and each of the othertwo of the scissor-bar assemblies comprises a plurality of pairs ofcrossed bars connected to each other.
 5. A wagon in accordance withclaim 1 wherein the wagon further comprises a collapsible bottom supportassembly, the bottom support assembly comprises a central hub and fourbars, the four bars are each pivotally connected to the central hub andto the bottom end portion of a respective one of the one of thetelescoping pole assemblies.
 6. A wagon in accordance with claim 5wherein the central hub allows each of the four bars of the bottomsupport assembly to pivot downward therefrom and prevents the four barsfrom pivoting upward therefrom beyond horizontal.
 7. A wagon inaccordance with claim 1 further comprising a removable stiffing panelthat is configured and adapted to be placed at the bottom of theinterior compartment of the wagon.
 8. A wagon that is adjustable betweenan expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration, the wagoncomprising: a frame, the frame having four sides, each side being formedby a respective scissor-bar assembly, the frame also having a verticallyoriented telescoping pole assembly at the intersection of each pair ofthe scissor-bar assemblies, the frame being such that as the wagon isaltered from its expanded to its collapsed configuration the scissor-barassemblies and the telescoping pole assemblies increase in height andthe scissor-bar assemblies decrease in width, each of two of thescissor-bar assemblies comprising a single pair of crossed bars and eachof the other two of the scissor-bar assemblies comprises a plurality ofpairs of crossed bars connected to each other; four wheels, each beingattached to a bottom end portion of a respective one of the telescopingpole assemblies; a pliable liner that is connected to the frame and thatdefines an open-top interior compartment of the wagon when the wagon isin its expanded configuration; and a tow handle, the tow handle beingconnected to the frame.
 9. A wagon in accordance with claim 8 whereinthe tow handle is telescopically collapsible.
 10. A wagon in accordancewith claim 8 wherein the wagon is configured such that two of the wheelscan only revolve about a fixed common axis and the other wheels revolveabout axes that are able to pivot relative to the fixed common axis. 11.A wagon in accordance with claim 8 wherein the wagon further comprises acollapsible bottom support assembly, the bottom support assemblycomprises a central hub and four bars, the four bars are each pivotallyconnected to the central hub and to the bottom end portion of arespective one of the one of the telescoping pole assemblies.
 12. Awagon in accordance with claim 11 wherein the central hub allows each ofthe four bars of the bottom support assembly to pivot downward therefromand prevents the four bars from pivoting upward therefrom beyondhorizontal.
 13. A method of collapsing a wagon, the wagon comprising aframe, a collapsible tow handle, and a pliable liner, the frame havingfour sides, each side being formed by a respective scissor-bar assembly,the frame also having a vertically oriented telescoping pole assembly atthe intersection of each pair of the scissor-bar assemblies, the methodcomprising: adjusting the frame of the wagon from an expandedconfiguration to a collapsed configuration in a manner causing thescissor-bar assemblies and the telescoping pole assemblies to increasein height and the scissor-bar assemblies to decrease in width, thepliable liner being collapsed in the process.
 14. A method in accordancewith claim 13 wherein the telescoping pole assemblies are generallyparallel to each other and remain so while performing the method ofcollapsing the wagon.
 15. A method in accordance with claim 13 whereinthe wagon comprises a collapsible bottom support assembly having fourbars that are each pivotally connected to a central hub and extendtherefrom, and the method further comprises pivoting each of the fourbars of the bottom support assembly downward with respect to the centralhub as the wagon is adjusted from the expanded configuration to thecollapsed configuration.
 16. A method in accordance with claim 15wherein the method is performed by moving the central hub upward in amanner causing the four telescoping pole assemblies to move toward eachother and expand and causing the scissor-bar assemblies to collapse. 17.A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein the liner defines anopen-top interior compartment of the wagon when the wagon is in theexpanded configuration, the pliable liner comprises a handle that islocated within the interior compartment and above the central hub, thepliable liner is connected to the bottom support assembly in a mannersuch that pulling the handle upward causes the central hub of thesupport assembly to move upward and thereby collapse the wagon.